How to Find a Song’s File Type in iTunes and macOS Music
The process to identify a song’s file type is almost identical in both iTunes and the Music app in macOS Catalina (10.15). Here’s what to do.
The Most Common File Types in iTunes and Music
In iTunes, click Songs under the Library section on the left when you’re on the Library tab.In Music, select Songs under the Library heading in the left pane.
AAC audio file: a standard AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) file comes from converting an MP3 or ripping a song from a CD using iTunes’ built-in AAC encoder. AAC is the successor to MP3. Matched AAC audio file: a standard AAC audio file, except that your computer or iOS device downloaded it from your iCloud account using iTunes Match. Apple Music AAC audio file: a standard AAC file, except that Apple Music. added it to your library. This file type has some Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions, such as requiring an active Apple Music subscription. If you cancel your subscription, you’ll lose access to the song. You also can’t burn Apple Music songs to a CD. MPEG audio file: a standard MP3 file, the classic digital audio format. You may have downloaded it from the web, or iTunes ripped the song from a CD using iTunes’ built-in MP3 encoder. Protected AAC audio file: This was the default file type for songs users purchased from the iTunes Store prior to the introduction of the DRM-free iTunes Plus format in April 2009. Protected, in this case, means DRM restricts it to devices authorized with the Apple ID used to buy the song. This restriction prevents the song from being copied or shared. Purchased AAC audio file: A Purchased AAC file is what a Protected AAC file becomes when it’s been upgraded to the iTunes Plus format. These files no longer have the DRM-based copy restrictions. All songs at the iTunes Store sold after April 2009 are in the DRM-free Purchased AAC audio file format.
Can You Share Purchased Music?
Not only is sharing music illegal (and takes money out of the pockets of the musicians who made the music), but there are some things in Protected AAC files that make it possible for record companies to find out who illegally shared a song. Protected AAC/iTunes Plus songs have information embedded in them that identifies the user who bought and shared the song by name. If you share your music and record companies want to track you down and sue you for copyright infringement, it’s going to be easier. One exception to this rule is music that you share among family members who are set up as part of Family Sharing. That kind of music sharing won’t lead to any legal problems.
